Green tribunal notices to Maharashtra, ministry for environment and forest on 132 power plants in Vidarbha

NAGPUR: Apprehending serious consequences for the environment if the proposed 132 power plants in Vidarbha region are allowed to start operations, the Pune-based National Green Tribunal (NGT) served notices to Maharashtra government seeking a reply before March 19.

An application in this regard was filed by social activist Ratandeep Rangari (through counsel Arpit Ratan). He claimed that the coal and power companies were blatantly violating norms prescribed by ministry for environment and forest (MoEF), and this would lead to increase in air pollution and poisoning of water bodies. He cited many TOI reports which exposed such threats to the region.

The case was listed before a division bench of justice VR Kingaonkar (judicial member) and Ajay Deshpande (expert member). Maharashtra chief secretary, state energy and environmental departments, union power and coal ministries, MoEF, Maharashtra Pollution Control board (MPCB), Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiary Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) were made respondents.